Despite a low voter turnout at the polls, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has vowed to change the current outlaw of abortion to give women the right to choose.
While at least 50 percent of voters are needed to make a ballot valid (the turnout was only 44 percent), almost 60 percent of the voters approved the referendum to legalize abortion. Socrates said the bill will still be passed in parliament, in which his party holds the majority.
Abortion has been outlawed in Portugal with the exception of rape, fetal malformation or if the woman’s life is in danger and the pregnancy is within only 12 weeks of conception. With the expectation of parliament passing the law and approval of the President, abortion will be legalized for all women, but only up to the 10th week of pregnancy.
As a country with one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, this will be a huge step up.
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It's about time.
Yes, and let's see Poland and Ireland follow suit too.
Micheyd, Poland is rapidly heading in the other direction. I'm sort of surprised I haven't seen more feminist blogging about it.
There was a time when Swedish women who were pregnant against their will would go to Poland to get abortions. All we need now is for our parliament to pass the law allowing non-residents to pay for abortions in Sweden that's up for debate, and the situation will be reversed.
Micheyd, Poland is rapidly heading in the other direction. I'm sort of surprised I haven't seen more feminist blogging about it.
Yeah, me too. But I can dream, can't I?
I had a feeling the liberalization issue was coming up in Portugal when I heard the story a few years ago of public outcry over women actually being prosecuted for obtaining abortions. The thought of that really didn't fly with the public.
Therese, do you have any link about Poland?
Alon, "A real threat of further restrictions on the anti–abortion law in Poland is present. According to the existing bill, termination of pregnancy is legal to save women’s life and health, when the fetus is badly deformed or when the pregnancy is a result of a crime. Although the law is already restrictive, there is a political initiative to make abortion fully illegal."